St. Pancras, martyr

Catholic Forum and others ^ | not available | not availble

[Salvation]

Pancras

Also known as

Pancritas; Pancratius

Memorial

12 May

Profile

Fourteen-year-old orphan, brought to Rome by his uncle, Saint Dionysius. Convert to Christianity. Martyred with Saint Nereus, Saint Achilleus, and Saint Domitilla for publicly proclaiming his faith. Pope Vitalian sent his relics from the cemetery of Calepodius in Rome to England as part of the evangelization of England, so they would have relics of the Church at large, and to install in altars in new churches. Saint Augustine of Canterbury dedicated the first Church in England to Saint Pancras, and subsequent churches throughout England are similarly named for him.

Born

c.290 at Phrygia

Died

beheaded c.304 on the Via Aurelia, Rome, Italy; relics interred in the Saint Pancras church, Rome, but were destroyed in 1798; his head is still in the basilica of Saint John Lateran

Patronage

against false witness; against perjury; children; cramps; headaches; Iserlohn, Germany; oaths; treaties

Additional Information

Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Online
Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society
New Catholic Dictionary

Print References

The Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate

[Salvation]

For your information.

[Salvation]

St. Pancras

Pancras M (RM)

(also known as Pancratius)

Born in Syria or Phrygia; died in Rome, Italy, c. 304. All that is known of Saint Pancras is that he was buried in the cemetery of Calepodius on the Aurelian Way, which was later named after him. According to unreliable tradition recorded in Cardinal Wiseman's Fabiola, St Pancras was orphaned and brought to Rome by an uncle, where both were converted to Christianity. As a boy of fourteen, he was beheaded in Rome for his faith during the reign of Diocletian.

Pope Saint Symmachus, c. 500, built a church to mark his grave. As in the church of Saint Felix of Nola, oaths taken in Saint Pancras's church at Rome, were esteemed to have a special sacredness. In the 7th century, Pope Saint Vitalian sent some of his relics to England, where they are enshrined in his titular church in London, which gave his name to the borough and the railway station. Another church in Canterbury was dedicated in his honor by Saint Augustine of Canterbury (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Hoagland).

When Saint Pancras is not pictured with SS. Achilleus and Nereus (today), he is portrayed as a very young knight with a palm and pennant and having a cross on his lance. He may also be shown as a young, unarmed Christian martyr or with a Saracen under his feet. Pancras is invoked against cramp, false witness, headache, and perjury (Roeder).

[Salvation]

St. Pancras pictures

Saint Pancras, Martyr - Died 304

St. Pancras was a Phrygian youth who was martyred in the persecution of Diocletian in 304 and buried in the cemetery of Calepodius on the Aurelian Way.  He is shown with a sword in the 20th-century window (shown here on the  left) of St. Pancras Church, Plymouth, England, presumably because he shares his feast day with SS. Nereus and Achilleus, who died in the same persecution and who were indeed soldiers.

Feast day: May 12

St. Pancras

20th century

Church of St. John the Baptist, Barcelona

More of St. Pancras

Photographed on site by Richard Stracke.

 

 

 

[Salvation]

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

May 12

St. Pancras

(d. 304?)

St. Pancras Railway Station in London got its name from an early Christian martyr about whom we have very little information. He is said to have been martyred at 14 during the persecution of Diocletian. He was buried in a cemetery which later was named after him. Pope Gregory the Great built a monastery for Benedictines and, when Augustine of Canterbury (a Benedictine) came to England, he named the first church he erected after Pancras. Hence the name of the railway station.

Pancras (Pancratius) appears in fictionalized form in Cardinal Wiseman’s novel Fabiola. German farmers had a saying that three saints whose names are similar—Pancras, Servatz and Bonifatz—were the “ice men” because it was often unseasonably chilly on their feast days, May 12, 13, 14.

Comment:

Again we have a saint about whom almost nothing is known, but whose life and death are cherished in the Church’s memory. Details fall away or are mixed with legend. But a single, powerful fact remains: He died for Christ and his heroism sent a wave of inspiration through the Church of his day. It is good for us to share that feeling.

Quote:

“[T]hey will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute” (Luke 21:12–15).

[Macoraba]

**He may also be shown ... with a Saracen under his feet.**

I’m supposing that saracen is the same as muslim. I’m wondering why a teenage boy martyr who lived centuries before Muhammad would have a connection with a saracen?

[Salvation]

Saint Pancras, Martyr - Died 304

St. Pancras was a Phrygian youth who was martyred in the persecution of Diocletian in 304 and buried in the cemetery of Calepodius on the Aurelian Way.  He is shown with a sword in the 20th-century window (shown here on the  left) of St. Pancras Church, Plymouth, England, presumably because he shares his feast day with SS. Nereus and Achilleus, who died in the same persecution and who were indeed soldiers.

Feast day: May 12

 

 

[Salvation]

St. Pancras, Martyr

St Pancras, Martyr
Optional Memorial
May 12th

Guercino
Virgin on throne between Saint Pancras and Saint Monaca (1615)
oil on canvas, cm.258x172

Collect:
God of mercy,
give your Church joy and confidence
through the prayers of Saint Pancras.
Keep us faithful to You
and steadfast in Your service.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

First Reading:Revelation 19:1,5-9
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for His judgments are true and just; He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants." Once more they cried, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever." And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And from the throne came a voice crying, "Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure"-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God."

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus declared, "I thank Thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was Thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

[Salvation]

Saints of the Day:Pancras, Martyr

Saints of the Day:Pancras, Martyr

Saints Nereus and

 

Saint Pancras (also known as Pancratius; San Pancrazio) was born in Syria or Phrygia and died in Rome, Italy, c. 304. All that is known of Saint Pancras is that he was buried in the cemetery of Calepodius on the Aurelian Way, which was later named after him. According to unreliable tradition recorded in Cardinal Wiseman's Fabiola, St Pancras was orphaned and brought to Rome by an uncle, where both were converted to Christianity. As a boy of fourteen, he was beheaded in Rome for his faith during the reign of Diocletian. Pope Saint Symmachus, c. 500, built a church to mark his grave. Oaths taken in Saint Pancras's church at Rome were esteemed to have a special sacredness